Dozens of wild animal were let loose to roam the streets of Zanesville, Ohio, after the owner of a wild animal preserve cut their cages and shot himself Tuesday night. Among the estimated 52 animals that escaped were lions, tigers, wolves, cheetahs,

Wednesday October 19, 2011, 4:49 pm
I've signed and noted this one...and shared this with my Facebook friends. Have you guys seen this petition too: http://www.change.org/petitions/the-governor-of-oh-arrest-sheriff-matt-lutz-for-animal-cruelty

Wednesday October 19, 2011, 9:28 pm
signed noted and posted it on about a dozen friend's walls on facebook, and continue to post it on fb whenever i see someone comment about this devastation. thanks Cher.

Wednesday October 19, 2011, 11:44 pm
What a tragedy for these animals that most of them had to be killed! Private ownership of exotic animals needs to be banned in Ohio and in all states! It is what fuels the exotic pet trade and these animals usually end up mistreated, living in small cages, abused, and also it is leading to the decline in numbers of animals who are already endangered! Many of these animals end up being shot in canned hunts too! I wouldn't doubt that this man was using these animals for such a sordid purpose!

Thursday October 20, 2011, 12:58 am
The US really have to pull themselves together, use their brain and BAN the keeping of exotic animals, who do you think you are? cowboys??? Really shame on you, shame!

Thursday October 20, 2011, 4:14 am
Such a devastating loss so senseless........these beautiful animals should never have been owned by this person to begin with!! My heart is just broken from their deaths. We must have laws to protect animals so this can't happen again.

Thursday October 20, 2011, 4:46 am
The former Governor had regulations in place for this reserve and others. Then came in the present Tbagger Governor who let the regulations expire. If the Regulations have been left in place, this place could have been inspected and watched for problems. Why the owner first turned all the wildlife loose and then committed suicide in his driveway is a mystery. I live along the Michigan border with Ohio and Indiana. Of course, this story was all over the news. There is supposed to be another News Conference at 10am today. And again, it is the animals who pay for the stupidity of mankind. Jack Hanna was at the scene and near tears as he talked about the 18 Bengal Tigers who were killed. It is truly a tragedy for these beautiful animals, and put an entire community in danger. The Columbus Zoo was also on site, and were able to retrieve a few of the animals, most had been killed by police on the site. Residents had to be warned to stay inside.

Thursday October 20, 2011, 5:32 am
So sad that these animals had to die because the owner was sick in the head. They should not have been in prison in the first place. These animals did not even have the pleasure to live in the wild and be free.

Thursday October 20, 2011, 7:52 am
Very sad for the animals, but definitely not their fault. It should be against the law in every state to have wild animals, either as "pets" or in a sanctuary. I understand this place was called a sanctuary, but according to wild life expert Jack Hanna, the conditions were deplorable! No animal should have to live and suffer in squalor, then be killed through no fault of their own. I need to rephrase this, not all sanctuaries are bad as this one appears to be. There are many good ones out there, and unfortunately they are necessary as long as humans insist on keeping wildlife as pets. Keep wildlife in the wild, they don't make good pets, and they grow up once you have used and abused them for "pictures" with the wild kitty!!!

Thursday October 20, 2011, 8:49 am
Done. I live close to this tragedy and need many more supporters to help us force new laws to ban the sale of exotic animals. Here in Oh, you can go to flea markets and purchase these precious animals. This is outrageous!!!!! I have connected by phone with my elected officials to express my horror in this tragedy. I hope that many others across the country can at least express their feelings.

Thursday October 20, 2011, 1:30 pm
So signed this one in loving memory of all the beautiful innocent animals that lost their lives yesterday in Ohio. We must get these laws toughened up so a tragedy like this can never happen again!!!!!

Thursday October 20, 2011, 1:57 pm
What is man without the beast?
If all the beasts were gone, men would die from great loneliness of spirit,
for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to man. All things are connected.
Whatever befalls the earth befalls the children of the earth.

Thursday October 20, 2011, 2:36 pm
Signed. This didn't have to happen if the human being would from start to finish treat all of life in the sacred manner it should be treated. These animals had tragic lives from the minute the were removed from their natural habitat.....very sad.

Thursday October 20, 2011, 3:27 pm
Signed. This was so heartbreaking. Wild animals should have never been allowed at this mans home, I can't imagine the reasoning behind this. So sad that these magnificent creatures had to be killed because of a human being again and this man put all the neighbors in harms way. This is a no brainer wild animals belong in their own environment not in captivity. Do the right thing for all involved and do not allow wild animals in your state.

Thursday October 20, 2011, 3:38 pm
Noted and signed in tears and heartbroken at the death of all these beautiful animals through no fault of their own......ALL exotic animals should be left to live their life in the wild with no threat from MAN!!!!!! I am deeply saddened of this very sad tragedy where the animals lost their lifes.R.I.P beautiful ones.Pleased to read they are being buried at the preserve,together forever...Such a waste of life!!!! Thank you Liz Xx

Thursday October 20, 2011, 11:05 pm
The problem is Ohio
For years now we have been trying to get them to pass laws to ban ownership of exotic animals.
Somebody has lots of blood on their hand (& in the lining of their pocket, their blood money) now.
Animal Rights groups have been warning them for eons.
First Florida and now Ohio
Any politicians out there listening? Of course not. They think this will blow over in a week or two. They COUNT on Americans having short memories. Keep this story going and keep the pressure on.

Friday October 21, 2011, 5:00 am
Such a sad story...noted and signed. I am sure we would ALL love to have a special wild animal in our lives..BUT we know that it is not possible and we accept that...WHY can't other accept that and see the logic in leaving our beloved wild creatures where they belong....in their wild natural homes. SO sad.

Friday October 21, 2011, 7:02 am
Signed, noted & will post to FB. None of this would have happened if these animals were treated as they should have been in the first place. If they were not kept in cages, this would not have happened.

Friday October 21, 2011, 7:39 am
"Non-violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution. Until we have not stopped to include violence as an option in our conflict management, we are still savages"
(Thomas A. Edison)

Friday October 21, 2011, 8:36 am
Thank you for posting this. I signed it and the other petitions mentioned. This was a horrible incident and I hope this will prompt banning private ownership of wild/exotic animals in all states.

Friday October 21, 2011, 2:39 pm
I heard this on the radio, and I could not believe it. Police shooting a lion, bear,....I thought at first it was someone who vandalized a zoo, and let the animals free. signed

Saturday October 22, 2011, 6:05 am
When I heard this on the news, I was heartbroken and furious...AGAIN a human stupidity and precious animals payed the price with their lives.
Will sign and share all the petitions Cher...;((

Saturday October 22, 2011, 6:54 am
Another one:
http://www.change.org/petitions/gov-john-kasich-ban-the-sale-ownership-and-harboring-of-wild-and-exotic-animals-in-ohio?utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=friends_wall
Gov. John Kasich: Ban the sale, ownership, and harboring of wild and exotic animals in Ohio